Twigg brace gets Rovers off to a flier

Shamrock Rovers 3 Dundalk 1

Gary Twigg began where he left off last season as the league's topscorer from 2010 hit a brace to get title favourites Shamrock Rovers off to a flier at Tallaght Stadium.

Impressive Dundalk came to make a match of it, but their best laid planned were scuppered on 23 minutes when keeper Peter Cheerie was sent off for bringing down Gary O'Neill outside the box.

But Ian Foster's side remained on top and their deservedly took the lead on 44 minutes when close season signing Jason Byrne added to his goals haul when converting a penalty after he'd been taken down by Dan Murray.

The lead lasted just a minute, however, as Gary McCabe punished a poor clearance to score from over 20 yards out past replacement keeper Paul Murphy.

Another defensive blunder gifted Twigg his first goal five minutes after the restart when Colin Hawkins' header fell short.

Twigg sealed the win on 56 minutes when clipping the ball over Murphy from close rang after being played in by strike partner O'Neill.